Patient with artificial heart discharged

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics says a patient who received a total artificial heart implant has been discharged, which is a first in the Midwest.

Richard Whittington of Geneseo, Ill. Received the total artificial heart 34 days ago and walked out of the hospital Tuesday.

The surgeon who implanted the device says he was pleased with Whittington's "rapid progress" and the hospital is encouraged that it can help other patients.

The device is manufactured by SynCardia and is designed to help "the sickest of the sick," people who are dying from end-stage heart failure. The manufacturer says Whittington is the first person with the device to be discharged from a hospital in the Midwest.